Multi-segment display panel with anode groups

ABSTRACT

A display panel which includes a plurality of groups of cathode glow segments disposed side by side for displaying side by side characters. Each group of cathode glow segments is formed of a single large-area glow cathode which is coated over its surface except at selected areas or segments. In operation, different combinations of these uncoated areas or segments are energized, and thus caused to glow, to display different characters. The cathode segments are energized by anodes which comprise conductive strips that pass along the length of the cathode segment groups but are suitably coated or masked to provide the required communication only with selected ones of the cathode segments.

O Umted States Patent 1 1 1111 3,914,643

Kupsky 1 1 Oct. 21, 1975 [54] MULTI-SEGMENT DISPLAY PANEL WITH 3,418,509 12/1968 Frouws et al. 313/519 ANODE GROUPS 3,426,248 2/1969 Cistola 313/484 X 3,641,383 2/1972 Tagawa 313/519 Inventor: George ps y, 1 d, -J- 3,679,933 7/1972 Nakada et a1 313/519 x [73] Assignee: Burroughs Corporation, Detriot,

Mi h Primary ExaminerPalmer C. Demeo Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Kenneth L. Miller; Robert [22] F1led: Sept. 13, 1974 Green [21] Appl. 190.; 505,888

Related US. Application Data ABSTRACT [63] Continuation of Ser. No. 316,303, Dec. 18, 1972, A display panel which includes a plurality of groups of aba which is a Continuation of Ser. cathode glow segments disposed side by side for dis 61,645, Aug 6, 1970, abandonedplaying side by side characters. Each group of cathode glow segments is formed of a single large-area glow U-S- Clcathode is coated over its urface except at S6,.

313/220; 315/169 TV lected areas or segments. In operation, different com- [51] Int. Cl. HOlJ 61/067; H01] 61/66; binations of these uncoated areas segments are H053 41/14 ergized, and thus caused to glow, to display different Fleld of Search l4, haracters The cathode egments are energized 313/188, 217, 210, 220; 315/169 TV anodes which comprise conductive strips that pass along the length of the cathode segment groups but References Cited are suitably coated or masked to provide the required UNITED STATES PATENTS communication only with selected ones of the cathode 1,560,103 11 1925 Schmierer 313/210 x segments- 2,848,638 8/1958 Smith 313/217 X 3,187,320 1/1965 Kupsky 315/846 x 25 Clams 8 Draw 3,327,154 6/1967 Bowerman 313/519 US. Patent 'Oct.21, 1975 Sheet10f4 3,914,643

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INVENTOR. 41 %George A. Kupsky waw ATTORNEY US. Patent Oct.21, 1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,914,643

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INVENTOR. George A. Kupsky ATTORNEY U.S. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,914,643

INVENTOR. George A. Kupsky Fig.3 BY

ATTORNEY US. Patent Oct.2l, 1975 Sheet4of4 3,914,643

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INVENTOR. George A. Kupsky ATTORNFY MULTI-SEGMENT DISPLAY PANEL WITH ANODE GROUPS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION Display devices of many types are known in the art including those which can display numerals or letters and thoseknown as segment devices. Segment display devices include a plurality of segment structures, each of which can glow and each of which can be combined with one or more other segments to represent different characters. The present invention relates to cold cathode gas-filled segment devices, and while devices of this type areknown in the art, none is as simple and inexpensive to construct as the segment device described herein. In addition, the display device of the invention readily lendsitself to atype of construction in which a plurality of characters can be displayed simultaneously, side-by-side, in .a single envelope.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, a display device embodying the invention includes one or more large-areacathode electrodes, each of which is associated through an apertured coating or mask with a group of anodes of unique construction, the electrodes being related to each other in a novel and simplified fashion to permit selection and glow of one or more cathode segments in each group.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a display panel embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through a portion of the panel of FIG. 1; I

, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the panel as seen from inside thepanel;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper section of the panel as seen from inside the panel;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the panel as seen by a viewer;

FIG. 6 is a-schematic representation of a panel and of a circuit in which it maybe operated;

, FIG. .7 is a plan view of a portion of the panel as seen I by a viewer; and I a FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of a single display area of the panel of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, a display panel 10 includes a base plate of glass, ceramic, or other suitable insulating material which carries a tubulation (FIG. 2), through which the panel is exhausted and filled with the desired gas. A plurality of relatively large-area cathode electrodes 40 are seated on the top surface 50 of the base plate suitably spaced apart from each other. The cathode electrodes may be conductive coatings or films of platinum, palladium, or the like, or they may be metal plates. The cathodes include relatively large main body portions 41 which may be generally rectangular in shape and which have conductive leads 60 ex tending from opposed portions thereof through the panel seal area 150 (FIG. 2). Substantially any number of cathodes 40 may be provided in the panel 10.

An insulating plate is seated on the cathode electrodes 40 and base plate 20, and it is provided with a plurality of groups of segment apertures, each group overlaying and in operative relation with a cathode electrode 40. In a panel which is adapted to display numerals 0 to 9, seven apertures 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, and 86 are provided in each group of segments as shown. The layout and arrangement of such segments in the form of a' figure 8,'for selectiveenergization to represent numerals, is well known in the art. The plate 70 may be of any suitable opaque insulating material such as glass, ceramic, or the like, with a material known as Forsterite being particularly suitable. The top surface 72 of plate 70 is darkened in any suitable manner to render it light-absorbent and thereby to improve the optical efficiency of the panel.

Panel 10 is completed by an assembly which includes a transparent or translucent cover plate 88 of glass or the like having a top viewing surface 87 and a bottom surface 89, the latter carrying a plurality of horizontal transparent conductive strips 90 of tin oxide, gold, or the like, which are spaced apart and insulated from each other. The strips 90 may be formed by coating the entire surface 89 of plate 88 with the selected material and then forming the individual strips by scribing .or etching, or otherwise removing conductive material from between the strips. A contact tab or wire 110 is suitably connected to each of the conductive strips 90. These tabs 110 are not shown in every Fig. for convenience. The strips 90 are positioned so that, in the completed panel, each overlays and communicates with at least a portion of one of the segment apertures to 86 in each group of apertures in the insulating plate 70. Thus, for a viewer looking at the assembled panel as illustrated schematically in FIG. 5, the first strip 90A overlays each of the horizontal apertures 86; the next strips 908 and 90C overlay vertical apertures 82 and 84, respectively; strip 90D overlays horizontal apertures 85; strips E and 90F overlay vertical apertures 81 and 83, respectively; and strip 90G overlays horizontal apertures 80.

On the conductive strips 90 is provided a thin transparent insulating film of glass or the like which'is formed in any suitable fashion. The film 130 is provided with openings or apertures which offer access to and expose a portion of each of the conductive strips 90, with the openings being suitably positioned so that each exposed strip is associated with only one aperture in each group in the insulating plate 70, as described above. Thus, the film 130 is provided with a plurality of linearly aligned openings 140, each of which exposes a portion of conductive strip 90A to apertures 86 in plate 70, openings 141 which are aligned along conductive strip 903 and expose portions of strip 90B to apertures 82 in plate 70, openings 142 aligned with and exposing portions of conductive strip 90C to apertures 84 in plate 70, openings 143 which expose portions of strip 90D to apertures 85, openings 144 which expose portions of strip 90E to portions of apertures 81, openings 145 which expose portions of conductive strip 90F to apertures 83, and openings 146 which expose portions of conductive strip 90G to apertures 80.

The various plates and electrodes of the panel are secured together around the periphery of the panel and along their adjacent edges by means of an hermetic seal 150 formed with a suitable material such as a glass frit or the like. The panel is also filled with a suitable gas such as neon, argon, or the like, singly or in combination, and a small quantity of mercury isincluded to minimize cathode sputtering in operation.

In a modification of the invention, a portion of which is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cover plate. 88, shown tilted back from its panel, is provided with conductive strips 90, and, instead of covering the strips 90 completely with a layer of glass which is subsequently apertured, strips of glass 200, 201, 202, 203. are provided covering portions of the conductive strips which communicate with apertures in plate 70, which portions are to be rendered inoperative, but leaving exposed the portions which are to be operative. The apertured plate 70 and all of the other parts of the panel 10 are provided, and the glass strips are positioned, so that when the apertured plate 70 is set in place, the apertures therein take positions as illustrated. Thus, it can be seen, in this embodiment of the invention, that a glass strip is not required covering any portion of conductive strip 90A, a glass strip 200 covers the portion of strip 90C which communicates with aperture 82 in plate 70 but leaves a portion of strip 903 exposed to aperture 82, a glass strip 201 covers the portion of conductive strip 90B which is aligned with aperture 82 and leaves exposed to this aperture a portion of conductive strip 90C, and the other glass strips are similarly positioned with no glass strip required covering any portion of conductive strips 90D and 906 which operate with horizontal apertures 85 and 80, respectively.

In operation of panel 10, when a generally negative potential is applied between a cathode 40 and an anode 90, say conductive strip 90A, which is exposed in aperture 140 in sheet 130 and in aperture 86 in plate 70, then, the associated portion of the cathode, as defined by aperture 86, exhibits cathode glow. If more than one anode is energized atthe same time, the corresponding portions of the cathode which glow will represent a character.

. In addition, in a system for operating the panel 10, each group of anodes and the associated cathode can be operated separately, that is, selected cathode segments in each group can be caused to glow by means of signals applied to it and to the anodes 90 in accordance with input data signals. A simplified illustrative system is shown in FIG. 6 with a schematic representation of the display panel 10, with only three groups of electrodes shown for convenience. In FIG. 6, block 208 represents a source of data or information signals and all of the necessary encoding and/or decoding circuits, the output of which includes a separate connection 210 to each of the anode electrodes or conductive strips 90A to 90G. In addition, in the system, a separate switching circuit 220 (A, B, C) for applying operating potential is connected to each of the cathode electrodes 40. Block 230 represents all of the necessary clock and synchronizing circuits for interrelating the data signal'circuit 208 and the cathode switching circuits 220. Circuit elements such as ground connections, voltage'sources, and the like are not shown to simplify the drawing, since these circuit elements can be readily provided by those skilled in the art.

In operation of the system, a character is displayed in the first group of segments by switching on the cathode potential source 220A to provide operating potential on the first cathode 40A, and, at the same time, applying appropriate signals to selected anode strips in accordance with information provided by the data circuit. Thus, if anodes 90B and 90E receive operating potential, glow is generated between anodes 90B and 90E and cathode 40A in aperture segments 81 and 82, and these glowing segments represent numeral 1. The same procedure is now performed for the second group of segments, and the same or a different character is represented. This display operation is carried out separately for each group of segments, and, in this way, each group of segments can display a different character. If this operation is carried out sequentially from cathode to cathode and the sequential energization is repeated at a suitable frequency, a stationary but changeable group of characters can be displayed in the panel as a whole.

What is claimed is: l. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a top viewing plate spaced therefrom, said plates having interior facing surfaces, at least one cathode electrode seated on and covering a substantial area of the interior surface of said base plate, said cathode being adapted to exhibit cathode glow, an insulating layer seated on said cathode having a group of apertures therein aligned with and overlaying said cathode electrode to leave selected portions of said cathode electrode exposed, said top plate being transparent to glow from said cathode, a plurality of strips of conductive material extending along the interior surface of said top plate, said strips being insulated from each other and facing said cathode through the apertures in said insulating layer, and means masking first portions of said conductive strips and exposing selected second portions of each, said exposed selected second portions of said conductive strips each facing one of said apertures and communicating in gas discharge relationship with the portion of said cathode exposed through said one aperture.

2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said masking means comprises an insulating layer formed on said conductive strips and having apertures exposing said second portions of each strip.

3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said group of apertures in said insulating layer are arrayed generally in a figure 8 pattern, and each aperture is aligned with an exposed second portion of one of said conductive strips.

4. A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and atop viewing plate spaced therefrom,

a plurality of cathode electrodes spaced apart and each covering a substantial area of said base plate, said cathodes being adapted to exhibit cathode glow,

an insulating layer seated on said cathodes,

a plurality of groups of apertures in said insulating layer, each group of apertures being aligned with and overlaying one of said cathode electrodes to leave selected portions of the cathode electrodes exposed,

a plurality of strips of conductive material between said insulating layer and saidtop plate, said strips extending along said groups of apertures and being insulated from each other, and facing said cathodes through the apertures in said insulating layer, and

means maskingfirst portions of said conductive strips and exposing second selected portions of each whereby each conductive strip has a portion facing and communicating in gas discharge relationship with an exposed portion of each of said cathodes.

5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said cathodes are disposed side-by-side along said base plate, and each has a substantial dimension in said side-byside direction, and wherein at least two apertures in said insulating layer are disposed side-by-side in alignment with each of said cathodes, said apertures being elongated in shape.

6. The device defined in claim 4 wherein each aperture in said insulating layer is aligned with an exposed portion of said conductive strips, and wherein each said group of apertures and the exposed cathode portions are arrayed generally in a figure 8 pattern.

7. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a top viewing plate spaced therefrom,

at least one cathode electrode seated on said base plate, said cathode being adapted to exhibit'cathode glow, 7

an insulating layer seated on said cathode having a group of elongated apertures aligned with and overlaying said cathode electrode to leave selected portions of said cathode electrode exposed,

a plurality of strips of conductive material between I said insulating layer and said top plate, said strips extending along said group of apertures and being insulated from each other, and facing said cathode through the apertures in said insulating layer,

all of said elongated apertures in said insulating layer being aligned with at least one of said conductive strips, and certain of said apertures being aligned with at least two conductive strips, and means masking said conductive strips so that each of said conductive strips can communicate with said cathode through only one of said apertures.

8. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a top viewing plate spaced therefrom,

a plurality of cathode electrodes spaced apart and seated on said base plate, said cathodes being adapted to exhibit cathode glow, A

an insulating layer seated on said cathodes,

a plurality of groups of cell apertures in said insulating layer, each group of cell apertures being aligned with and overlaying one of said cathode electrodes, said cell'apertures being generally rectangular and arrayed in a figure 8 pattern in each group,

a plurality of strips of conductive material between said insulating layer and said top plate, said conductive 'stripsextending longitudinally along the length of said groups of apertures and being insulated from each other, and facing said cathodes through the cell. apertures in said insulating plate,

all of said cell apertures being aligned and in gas discharge communication with at least one of said conductive strips, certain of said cell apertures being aligned with more than one of said conductive strips but in gas discharge communication with only one and insulated from the others.

9. The device defined in claim 8 and including an insulating layer covering said conductive strips and having an aperture aligned with each of said cell apertures.

10.'A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window through which a cathode glow display may be viewed,

a plurality of large-area planar cathode electrodes disposed side by side within said envelope,

insulating means-on each said cathode renderingonly selective areas of said cathode able to exhibit cathode glow,

said selective areas of-each cathode being disposed in a pattern such that said'areas are energizable in different combinations to exhibit cathode glow in such different combinations whereby different characters can be displayed,

a plurality of anode electrodes arrayed in a pattern facing said selective areas of said cathode electrode,

each such anode being in energizing relationship with one of said selective areas of each of said cathode electrodes, and means for energizing all of said selective areas of one of said cathodes, one such cathode after another, and for selectively energizing a combination of said anode electrodes with the energization of each said cathode, to cause different combinations of said selective areas'of each of said cathodes to glow. 11. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said cathodes are disposed in a common plane and said anodes are disposed in a common plane along the inside surface of said viewing window substantially parallel to the plane of said cathodes.

12. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said insulating means is such that each said cathode is covered over its entire surface except for exposed portions disposed in operative relation with said anodes.

13. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said insulating means comprises an apertured mask which covers the surface of each said cathode except for portions exposed by the apertures therein, said exposed portions being in operative relation with and facing said anodes and comprising said selective areas of said cathodes.

14. The device defined in claim 13 wherein said exposed portions of each of said cathodes are elongated segments disposed in a figure 8 pattern.

15. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said anodes are formed by elongated conductors extending along a surface disposed between said cathodes and said viewing window, with insulating material covering said conductors except in regions aligned with said selective cathode areas, the conductors, in such regions, serving as anodes for the aligned cathode areas.

16. A gas discharge display panel for displaying characters in a plurality of side-by'side character positions along a predetermined line, wherein in each such position any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions,

an ionizable gas within said enclosure at a pressure capable of sustaining a cathode glow discharge,

a plurality of groups of conductive surfaces in contact with said ionizable gas, each such surface being in the shape of a segment of a character to be displayed, and serving, when energized, to establish a cathode glow discharge along its length,

said groups being arranged side-by-side within said enclosure to face said viewing window, each such group having its segment-shaped surfaces disposed in substantially the same pattern and forming a character position capable of displaying different characters by glow discharges along different combinations of its surfaces,

said segment-shaped conductive surfaces being electrically interconnected to form a plurality of separate circuits, with each such circuit including a selected combination of said segment-shaped surfaces, and each segment-shaped surface being located in only one of said separate circuits,

at least one anode electrode associated with each said group of segmentshaped surfaces,

conductive leads connected to said anodes, and

means for energizing said separate circuits sequentially, one at a time and one after another, and for selectively energizing different combinations of said anode leads, one such combination after another sequentially, each combination of anode leads being energized in synchronism with the energization of .one of said separate circuits, to form a side-by-side character display over all of said character positions.

17. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window through which a cathode glow display pattern can be viewed,

a plurality of side-by-side character positions within said envelope each capable of displaying any one of several glowing characters,

each said'display position including a group of cathode segments and a group of anodes, one anode being associated with each of the cathode segments,

a plurality of anode conductors each electrically connected to one anode of each of said character positions,

means for energizing different combinations of said anode conductors sequentially, by first selectively energizing one combination thereof, then another combination, and so forth,

means for synchronously energizing different ones of said cathode groups, by energizing all of the cathode segments of one cathode group while one combination of anode conductors is energized, those of a second cathode group while a different combination of anode conductors is energized, and so forth until all of the cathode groups have been energized, and

means for repeating the energization of said cathode groups cyclically, while continuing the sequential energization of different combinations of anode conductors, at a sufficient rate to present a nonflickering cathode glow display across the character positions.

18. The device defined in claim 17 wherein at each of the character positions all of the cathode segments of the cathode group are electrically interconnected.

19 The device defined in claim 18 wherein at each of the character positions all of the cathode segments of the cathode group are formed of different segments ofa single conductive member and wherein said anode conductors are located between said cathode conductive members and said viewing window.

20. The device defined in claim 17 including a plurality of planar conductive members, one at each charac ter position,

each such conductive member having only discrete areas capable of sustaining cathode glow, and such discrete areas forming the group of cathode segments at the character position.

21. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window through which a cathode glow display may be viewed,

a plurality of cathodes disposed side-by-side, each ca- I pable of sustaining cathode glow only over a group of discrete areas,

a plurality of elongated anode conductors each extending in spaced relation to the others along the length of the side-by-side cathodes, but spaced from said cathodes,

each said anode conductor being exposed only to a single discrete area of each said cathode,

means for energizing different combinations of said anode conductors sequentially, by first selectively V energizing one combination thereof, then another combination, and so forth, and

means for synchronously energizing different ones of said cathodes, so that one cathode is energized while one combination of anode conductors is energized, a second cathode is energized while a different combination of anode conductors is energized, and so forth until all of the cathodes have been energized.

22. The device defined in claim 21 wherein said anode conductors are located between said cathodes and said viewing window, and wherein each discrete area of a cathode is exposed to only one of said anode conductors.

23. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window through which a cathode glow display may be 'viewed,

a plurality of large-area planar cathode electrodes spaced side by side within said envelope,

means rendering only selective areas of said cathodes able to exhibit cathode glow,

said selective areas on each cathode being disposed in a pattern and energizable in different combinations to exhibit cathode glow in such different combinations to form and display different characters, a plurality of elongated conductors insulatingly spaced from one another and extending along the length of said side-by-side cathode electrodes,

means shielding said conductors from the selective areas of said cathode electrodes except along certain portions of their lengths, each such conductor thus being exposed only to one selective area of each such cathode and serving as the anode for said one selective area, and

means for selectively energizing different combinations of said elongated conductors, one such combination after another, and for energizing said cathode electrodes sequentially, in synchronism with the sequential energization of said conductor combinations, to cause different combinations of the selective areas of said side-by-side cathodes to glow.

24. A gas discharge display panel for displaying char acters in a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, wherein in each such position any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising a gas-tight envelope including a front plate with a position capable of displaying different characters by glow discharges along different combinations of its segments, the segments of the different groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern,

a plurality of elongated anode conductors extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along the length of said side-by-side cathode segment groups, each of said anode conductors passing in gas discharge relationship with one of the cathode segments in each of said groups, and

means for energizing said cathode segment groups in time sequence, one such group after another, and for selectively energizing different combinations of said anode conductors in synchronism with the sequential energization of said cathode segment groups, to form a side-by-side character display over said character positions.

25. A panel as in claim 24 wherein said anode conductors are located between said cathode segments and said viewing window. 

1. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a top viewing plate spaced therefrom, said plates having interior facing surfaces, at least one cathode electrode seated on and covering a substantial area of the interior surface of said base plate, said cathode being adapted to exhibit cathode glow, an insulating layer seated on said cathode having a group of apertures therein aligned with and overlaying said cathode electrode to leave selected portions of said cathode electrode exposed, said top plate being transparent to glow from said cathode, a plurality of strips of conductive material extending along the interior surface of said top plate, said strips being insulated from each other and facing said cathode through the apertures in said insulating layer, and means masking first portions of said conductive strips and exposing selected second portions of each, said exposed selected second portions of said conductive strips each facing one of said apertures and communicating in gas discharge relationship with the portion of said cathode exposed through said one aperture.
 2. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said masking means comprises an insulating layer formed on said conductive strips and having apertures exposing said second portions of each strip.
 3. The device defined in claim 1 wherein said group of apertures in said insulating layer are arrayed generally in a figure 8 pattern, and each aperture is aligned with an exposed second portion of one of said conductive strips.
 4. A display panel comprising a gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a top viewing plate spaced therefrom, a plurality of cathode electrodes spaced apart and each covering a substantial area of said base plate, said cathodes being adapted to exhibit cathode glow, an insulating layer seated on said cathodes, a plurality of groups of apertures in said insulating layer, each group of apertures being aligned with and overlaying one of said cathode electrodes to leave selected portions of the cathode electrodes exposed, a plurality of strips of conductive material between said insulating layer and said top plate, said strips extending along said groups of apertures and being insulated from each other, and facing said cathodes through the apertures in said insulating layer, and means masking first portions of said conductive strips and exposing second selected portions of each whereby each conductive strip has a portion facing and communicating in gas discharge relationship with an exposed portion of each of said cathodes.
 5. The device defined in claim 4 wherein said cathodes are disposed side-by-side along said base plate, and each has a substantial dimension in said side-by-side direction, and wherein at least two apertures in said insulating layer are disposed side-by-side in alignment with each of said cathodes, said apertures being elongated in shape.
 6. The device defined in claim 4 wherein each aperture in said insulating layer is aligned with an exposed portion of said conductive strips, and wherein each said group of apertures and the exposed cathode portions are arrayed generally in a figure 8 pattern.
 7. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a top viewing plate spaced therefrom, at least one cathode electrode seated on said base plate, said cathode being adapted to exhibit cathode glow, an insulating layer seated on said cathode having a group of elongated apertures aligned with and overlaying said cathode electrode to leave selected portions of said cathode electrode exposed, a plurality of strips of conductive material between said insulating layer and said top plate, said strips extending along said group of apertures and being insulated from each other, and facing said cathode through the apertures in said insulating layer, all of said elongated apertures in said insulating layer being aligned with at least one of said conductive strips, and certain of said apertures being aligned with at least two conductive strips, and means masking said conductive strips so that each of said conductive strips can communicate with said cathode through only one of said apertures.
 8. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope including an insulating base plate and a top viewing plate spaced therefrom, a plurality of cathode electrodes spaced apart and seated on said base plate, said cathodes being adapted to exhibit cathode glow, an insulating layer seated on said cathodes, a plurality of groups of cell apertures in said insulating layer, each group of cell apertures being aligned with and overlaying one of said cathode electrodes, said cell apertures being generally rectangular and arrayed in a figure 8 pattern in each group, a plurality of strips of conductive material between said insulating layer and said top plate, said conductive strips extending longitudinally along the length of said groups of apertures and being insulated from each other, and facing said cathodes through the cell apertures in said insulating plate, all of said cell apertures being aligned and in gas discharge communication with at least one of said conductive strips, certain of said cell apertures being aligned with more than one of said conductive strips but in gas discharge communication with only one and insulated from the others.
 9. The device defined in claim 8 and including an insulating layer covering said conductive strips and having an aperture aligned with each of said cell apertures.
 10. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window through which a cathode glow display may be viewed, a plurality of large-area planar cathode electrodes disposed side by side within said envelope, insulating means on each said cathode rendering only selective areas of said cathode able to exhibit cathode glow, said selective areas of each cathode being disposed in a pattern such that said areas are energizable in different combinations to exhibit cathode glow in such different combinations whereby different characters can be displayed, a plurality of anode electrodes arrayed in a pattern facing said selective areas of said cathode electrode, each such anode being in energizing relationship with one of said selective areas of each of said cathode electrodes, and means for energizing all of said selective areas of one of said cathodes, one such cathode after another, and for selectively energizing a combination of said anode electrodes with the energization of each said cathode, to cause different combinations of said selective areas of each of said cathodes to glow.
 11. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said cathodes are disposed in a common plane and said anodes are disposed in a common plane along the inside surface of said viewing window substantially parallel to the plane of said cathodes.
 12. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said insulating means is such that each said cathode is covered over its entire surface except for exposed portions disposed in operative relation with said anodes.
 13. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said insulating means comprises an apertured mask which covers the surface of each said cathode except for portions exposed by the apertures therein, said exposed portions being in operative relation with and facing said anodes and coMprising said selective areas of said cathodes.
 14. The device defined in claim 13 wherein said exposed portions of each of said cathodes are elongated segments disposed in a figure 8 pattern.
 15. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said anodes are formed by elongated conductors extending along a surface disposed between said cathodes and said viewing window, with insulating material covering said conductors except in regions aligned with said selective cathode areas, the conductors, in such regions, serving as anodes for the aligned cathode areas.
 16. A gas discharge display panel for displaying characters in a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, wherein in each such position any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising an envelope formed of a front plate with a viewing window and a rear plate, said plates being sealed together along a predetermined perimeter surrounding the line of character positions to establish a gas-tight enclosure about said character positions, an ionizable gas within said enclosure at a pressure capable of sustaining a cathode glow discharge, a plurality of groups of conductive surfaces in contact with said ionizable gas, each such surface being in the shape of a segment of a character to be displayed, and serving, when energized, to establish a cathode glow discharge along its length, said groups being arranged side-by-side within said enclosure to face said viewing window, each such group having its segment-shaped surfaces disposed in substantially the same pattern and forming a character position capable of displaying different characters by glow discharges along different combinations of its surfaces, said segment-shaped conductive surfaces being electrically interconnected to form a plurality of separate circuits, with each such circuit including a selected combination of said segment-shaped surfaces, and each segment-shaped surface being located in only one of said separate circuits, at least one anode electrode associated with each said group of segment-shaped surfaces, conductive leads connected to said anodes, and means for energizing said separate circuits sequentially, one at a time and one after another, and for selectively energizing different combinations of said anode leads, one such combination after another sequentially, each combination of anode leads being energized in synchronism with the energization of one of said separate circuits, to form a side-by-side character display over all of said character positions.
 17. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window through which a cathode glow display pattern can be viewed, a plurality of side-by-side character positions within said envelope each capable of displaying any one of several glowing characters, each said display position including a group of cathode segments and a group of anodes, one anode being associated with each of the cathode segments, a plurality of anode conductors each electrically connected to one anode of each of said character positions, means for energizing different combinations of said anode conductors sequentially, by first selectively energizing one combination thereof, then another combination, and so forth, means for synchronously energizing different ones of said cathode groups, by energizing all of the cathode segments of one cathode group while one combination of anode conductors is energized, those of a second cathode group while a different combination of anode conductors is energized, and so forth until all of the cathode groups have been energized, and means for repeating the energization of said cathode groups cyclically, while continuing the sequential energization of different combinations of anode conductors, at a sufficient rate to present a nonflickering cathode glow display across the character positions.
 18. The device defined in claim 17 wherein at each of the character positions all of the cathode segments of the cathode group are electrically interconnected.
 19. The device defined in claim 18 wherein at each of the character positions all of the cathode segments of the cathode group are formed of different segments of a single conductive member and wherein said anode conductors are located between said cathode conductive members and said viewing window.
 20. The device defined in claim 17 including a plurality of planar conductive members, one at each character position, each such conductive member having only discrete areas capable of sustaining cathode glow, and such discrete areas forming the group of cathode segments at the character position.
 21. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window through which a cathode glow display may be viewed, a plurality of cathodes disposed side-by-side, each capable of sustaining cathode glow only over a group of discrete areas, a plurality of elongated anode conductors each extending in spaced relation to the others along the length of the side-by-side cathodes, but spaced from said cathodes, each said anode conductor being exposed only to a single discrete area of each said cathode, means for energizing different combinations of said anode conductors sequentially, by first selectively energizing one combination thereof, then another combination, and so forth, and means for synchronously energizing different ones of said cathodes, so that one cathode is energized while one combination of anode conductors is energized, a second cathode is energized while a different combination of anode conductors is energized, and so forth until all of the cathodes have been energized.
 22. The device defined in claim 21 wherein said anode conductors are located between said cathodes and said viewing window, and wherein each discrete area of a cathode is exposed to only one of said anode conductors.
 23. A display device comprising a gas-filled envelope having a viewing window through which a cathode glow display may be viewed, a plurality of large-area planar cathode electrodes spaced side by side within said envelope, means rendering only selective areas of said cathodes able to exhibit cathode glow, said selective areas on each cathode being disposed in a pattern and energizable in different combinations to exhibit cathode glow in such different combinations to form and display different characters, a plurality of elongated conductors insulatingly spaced from one another and extending along the length of said side-by-side cathode electrodes, means shielding said conductors from the selective areas of said cathode electrodes except along certain portions of their lengths, each such conductor thus being exposed only to one selective area of each such cathode and serving as the anode for said one selective area, and means for selectively energizing different combinations of said elongated conductors, one such combination after another, and for energizing said cathode electrodes sequentially, in synchronism with the sequential energization of said conductor combinations, to cause different combinations of the selective areas of said side-by-side cathodes to glow.
 24. A gas discharge display panel for displaying characters in a plurality of side-by-side character positions along a predetermined line, wherein in each such position any one of a predetermined number of characters can be displayed, comprising a gas-tight envelope including a front plate with a viewing window and a support plate with a front surface facing said window, an ionizable gas within said envelope at a pressure capable of sustaining a cathode glow discharge, a plurality of groups of conductive segments spaced side-by-side along the front surface of said support plate in contact with said ionizable gas, each such segment being in the shape of a portion of a character to be displayed, and serving, when energized, to establish a cathode glow discharge along its length, each such group having its conductive segments interconnected electrically and forming a character position capable of displaying different characters by glow discharges along different combinations of its segments, the segments of the different groups being disposed in substantially the same pattern, a plurality of elongated anode conductors extending in insulatingly spaced relation to one another along the length of said side-by-side cathode segment groups, each of said anode conductors passing in gas discharge relationship with one of the cathode segments in each of said groups, and means for energizing said cathode segment groups in time sequence, one such group after another, and for selectively energizing different combinations of said anode conductors in synchronism with the sequential energization of said cathode segment groups, to form a side-by-side character display over said character positions.
 25. A panel as in claim 24 wherein said anode conductors are located between said cathode segments and said viewing window. 